SWIM (Smart Women in Music) Fund Aims to Offer Next-Level Leadership Training for Women in the Music Products Industry

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Female leaders in the music products industry are combining their energies and resources to establish The Smart Women in Music (SWIM) Fund; a fund designed to foster and support female industry professionals at various stages of their careers.

“The SWIM Fund was born out of a desire to reach and serve women who wish to expand their horizons and professional proficiencies, and who demonstrate ambition for a leadership role,” said NAMM Chair and President and CEO of West Music Co., Robin Walenta. “It’s our sincere hope that as part of The SWIM Fund, the female leaders of tomorrow will arise.”

The fund, led by Robin Walenta, Crystal Morris, President and CEO of Gator Cases, and DeDe Heid, Executive Vice President of Heid Music, aims to support women in the industry in three key areas: offering mentoring, learning and professional development opportunities at The NAMM Show and Summer NAMM; job shadowing of female leaders at industry events; and in-company residencies. In 2019, The SWIM Fund will include a two-day SWIM symposium at NAMM’s offices for 12-16 women to expand their professional development and leadership skills; additional details of the symposium to come. The fund was announced earlier today at the National Association of School Music Dealers annual conference in Hollywood, Florida.

“With the launch of The SWIM Fund, we now have a resource for female industry professionals to find a path, likeminded individuals, and a resource for the continued development of professional acumen that’s vital to longevity and industry retention,” commented Crystal Morris. “No matter if you’re brand new to the industry or an established veteran, The SWIM Fund aims to provide the ‘next level’ skills to prepare women for the leadership challenges they’ll face.”

DeDe Heid echoed that sentiment: “The SWIM Fund honors those who’ve gone before us and recognizes the important, long-term role that diversity and inclusion have in strengthening the music products industry. With SWIM, we’re encouraging the industry to ‘dive in’ and support female leadership development with a donation to this cause.”

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Community Spotlight

Best Communities’ has helped us maintain our music budget when other school programs have been greatly impacted by the current economic crunch,” said Richard Tinsley, music education specialist for Henrico County Public Schools in Richmond, VA. “Also, it has been a source of pride for our community, students, and administrators, and is often used as a selling point that local real estate agents use with potential buyers considering home purchases in the Henrico County school locality.

- Richard Tinsley, Music Education Specialist, Henrico County Public Schools

Did you know?

"Creativity is driven from within the child, from education, from culture, from surroundings… The challenge is to help children keep the balance." Hanne Deneire, composer.

Quoted in "Appreciating Music as a Foundational Aspect of Creativity" by Joanne Foster. Feb. 3, 2018

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